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Incredible medicine for aging well: Walking!
I want to share something that I have practiced almost daily for many years and the difference it has made is astounding. It's simply walking for 1 hour a day! It is truly an incredible medicine. The benefits: for me have been
1. Relaxation
2. Better, deep sleep
3. Breaks up the day
4. Turns negative thoughts to positive
5. Balances appetite - I eat well, not to excess (like on days I don't walk) and gravitate to healthier foods for some reason
6. Perfect vitals like blood pressure. No health issues
7. Great muscle tome all over
8. Much more stamina
9. Look far younger than my age
10. Get fresh air
11. Sense of adventure
12. With the right shoes each foot strike feels wonderful
13. Just plain fun!
14. Potential to meet new people with the same mindset, if that's your thing]
15. Normal BMI (body mass index). Mine is about 21
16. No cost to get started but I recommend good walking shoes when you finally "get it". Good shoes add a whole other dimension
17. Many internal benefits that you are totally unaware of, such increased blood volume, more efficient oxygen transport, more pliable blood vessels. Keeps you healthy!
So there you are. I hope this encourages someone to at least try it out. Then when you get "into it" you can search for good walking shoes. Excellent ones can be found online for anywhere from $50 to $150. Stick with the major brands and only buy shoes made for walking. I will recommend the Brooks Omni Walker, as a start. Also excellent, the famous Brooks Addiction Walker. They got that name right!
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I give myself permission to walk for 10 minutes and turn back if I want to. I can do just 20 minutes of almost anything. I also promise myself a reward when I'm done. (Cup of coffee, hot chocolate, time to read, knit, call a friend, whatever works) I often find I will forget about the time and keep going. Once it becomes a habit it's much easier.
Hope this helps.
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4 ReactionsThanks, I needed those, plus I need many more. I'm slowly recovering from a hip replacement. Surgery was much delayed because the pain was disguised as L5-S1 & R SI, which was and is badly inflamed from arthritis. I allowed myself to stop walking because of the pain walking created, and finally this last spring, the R hip became unstable. X-rays and an MRI showed serious arthritis and no involvement of the bursa. It took several months to get the hip replaced in this town where there is a serious shortage of ortho surgeons. Now I'm 6 weeks post-surgery and find my muscles are sadly out of shape from their lack of use. No, I can't go out the door to walk because of the ice; it is simply too dangerous. But I could head back to the pool to the Mobility through Water, which now starts at 8 am - it used to be 9 or 9:30. Ugh. Or I can walk on the indoor track at the same fitness facility where the pool is located. For both of those I'd have to negotiate the icy sidewalks. Nonetheless, in the meantine I can ride the exercycle which sits in the living room, only a few steps from where I am now. That sounds like something I need to do now.
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1 ReactionThank you for the inspiration! I am looking forward to walking becoming a habit. All the best to you.